VALUE OF YACHTS IN WAR

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 May 1908, Page 7

VALUE OF YACHTS IN WAR

.. STATE AID. .MR. DEAKIN NON-COMMITTAL. k* tELKGEArn—PRESS .-.SSOCUTION—COPTEIGBT. '■. ; Melbourne,' ,May 25. , Mr. Deakin, Federal Prime Minister, denies the statement that, lie intends to ask Parliament to grant £2000 to assist the establishment of a yacht race between yachts of specified build and equipment, which could be'at tho disposal of the .Commonwealth or New Zealand. either as torpedo boats or scouts. . ' ' ' 1 'Mr. Deakin- says tho . suggestion .is interesting, but he wants a • more definite scheme. '. . ■ V The matter was brought before Mr. Deakin by Captain Whitney, a6ting' on .' behalf .of Auckland yachtsmen. Captain. Whitney says" Sir, Joseph Ward promised favourable consideration to a ; request for £500. PROPOSAL CRITICISED. ' Captain Whitney made his proposal in Aucklandin November last, and not appear to have been, seriously taken' up' in New. Zealand.;' • Captain Whitney, . speaking/at a meeting, of the North Shore Yacht Club, urged , that there would, be very great interest thrown intp Auckland yachting—in fact, intercolonial yachting—wero theabilities of'.the ..numerous able-bodied and /skilled' yachtsmen utilised in naval coast .defence.. . . . Commander Brownlow, the Naval Commandant of New: South '"/Witles,'. says: "Looking at the as it appears in - the paper, and not; being- in possession of: further data, it certainly seems to mo impracticable. As far'as uoferice.is concerned,: auxiliary vessels with a Speed.'of five; miles are of 'no use whatever for purposes of coastal defence, and even, boats built for racing would be of no use; "The only vessels that could be used for purposes of defence in this respect would be up-to-date destroyers, or vessels of the scout olass. The New Zealand suggestion is evidently made with a view to co-oporation in time of' war ..between the Commonwealth and tho Dominion, but a proper wireless telegraph system would bo of more benefit; than any combination of . yacht clubs to provide vessels." '